Colorado crushes Soul, 58-40
May 2, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
DENVER -- The Colorado Crush advanced to 9-4 and clinched its first winning season in franchise history, defeating the Philadelphia Soul 58-40 in front of 16,055 at the Pepsi Center on Saturday evening.
The Soul dropped to 5-7 with the defeat, jeopardizing its playoff hopes.
Wide receiver/linebacker Kevin McKenzie led the way for the Crush, scoring three touchdowns, intercepting a pass and amassing 100 yards on six receptions. McKenzie's first touchdown came just 10 seconds into the contest, when he recovered a kickoff that slammed off the left upright, returning it four yards for the quickest score in franchise history.
Colorado never trailed. Philadelphia tied the game at 7 when Todd Hammel fired a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sean Scott just 1:40 into the game, but the Crush responded with a 49-yard touchdown drive that put them in front for good.
Quarterback John Dutton completed 23-of-33 passes for 263 yards and five touchdowns for Colorado. Four Crush pass-catchers amassed more than 40 yards in receptions, including Damian Harrell, whose 16-yard touchdown reception increased his streak of games with a touchdown catch to 30.
The Crush increased its lead to 37-20 by halftime and was never seriously threatened from that point forward, scoring a touchdown on its initial second-half possession and maintaining a lead of at least three scores from that point on. Colorado built a 32-point fourth-quarter lead before Soul quarterback Nick Browder tossed two touchdown passes in the game's final six minutes.
Browder replaced Hammel, who completed 16-of-25 passes for 247 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in three quarters of work. Browder connected on 12 of his 18 attempts for 126 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Colorado triumphed in spite of being outgained 369 yards to 270 and outpassed 367 yards to 263. The Crush compensated for its yardage deficit by posting a plus-2 turnover ratio thanks to two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
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